“Historical photographs celebrating 140
years of the School of Agriculture in Tábor”

We present photographs from 1876 to the 1950s, featuring old and
new School buildings, botanical garden, experimental plots,
laboratories, anatomical specimens, agricultural technology,
students at work and play, the Tábor exhibitions of 1884, 1902,
1920 and 1929, and views of agricultural work around Tabor.

The exhibition is spread into two floors. In ground floor you
will find photographs from Tábor and school itself.

We was pleasantly surprised by the interest in exhibition even
though the hot weather the exhibition was opened in.

In the staircase and basement you will find photographs of
students working on school farms…

… and from agricultural exhibitions in Tábor.

Brief history of School of
Agriculture in Tábor

The School of Agriculture in Tábor, founded in
1866, is one of the oldest schools of its kind in
Europe. The origins of agricultural schools in the Czech lands goes
back to around 1750s, but the first schools to be teaching in the
Czech language were founded only after 1850. At the time the School
of Agriculture in Tábor was founded, it was the first Czech
Higher School of Agriculture, and until 1906, when an
agricultural programme was started at the Czech Technical
University (ČVUT) in Prague, it was the only Czech
University of Agriculture.

Dr. Jan Babtista Lambl

In 1861, the Member of Parliament for Bohemia,
Dr. Jan B. Lambl proposed a law requiring that
special schools for agriculture and the agricultural industry be
created in the Czech lands. This law was passed on 13th April 1861.
A Higher School of Agriculture, teaching in German, had been set up
in Libwerd (now Libverda, nearby Liberec) in 1856. However, because
no such school existed that was teaching in Czech language, all the
cities, towns, manors and individuals in the Czech lands were
invited to set up such a school, with Government support of 10 000
gold coins per year. (To compare, the annual income of director of
elementary school was around 300 gold coins).

Old Building of School of Agriculture
(above Budějovická street), photographed before 1891.

Seven cities, and one owner of a private agriculture school, Dr
Čupr, applied. City of Tábor, which already hosted the important
Czech gymnasium, was chosen, primarily because it promised to
invest an additional 50 000 gold coins. The opening of the school
was delayed, mainly because of the 1866 invasion of Prussian
troops, who occupied the building where the school was intended to
be housed. However, on 26th November 1866, the “Higher School of
Agriculture and Agricultural Industry in Tábor” was opened, with a
Mass in the Tabor church.

To be accepted into the School, students had to be healthy, be
at least 17 years old, have graduated from lower high school, and
have at least one year of practical farming experience. All classes
were taught in the Czech language until 1870, when courses were
also taught in the Russian language.

In 1877, the study programme was extended to
3 years, and the entrance exams were made more
demanding. Still there was great interest in studying at Tábor, and
the school had the largest number of students of any Agricultural
School in the whole Austrian Empire. By 1881, students completing
their studies peaked at 141 per year. The quality of education was
further improved, which expanded to include civil engineering, such
as the handling of steam engines, and drainage and river-bed
reconstructions. Tábor also pioneered the founding of a veterinary
hospital for livestock, an idea that only became popular elsewhere,
50 years later.

Study reforms in 1887 forced the School to
temporarily reduce the study programme to 2 years,
and negatively affected the interest in the school, but in other
ways, the quality of education and research was improving. In 1874,
the School set up an Agricultural Chemistry Institute; in 1880, a
meteorological (weather research) station; and in 1893, an
experimental station for seeds (later to become the Agricultural
Botanical Research Institute). A lot of effort was also put into
expanding the School's specimen collections.

By 1900, the School had produced 1 309 graduates. The number of
foreign students continued to grow, and by the 1890s, foreign
students (mainly Serbian and Polish) were one third of the student
roll.

In 1900, the “Royal Czech Academy of
Agriculture” the first University to be teaching
agriculture in the Czech language, was founded in Tábor, by
resolution of the Czech parliament. This officially acknowledged
the quality of education at the former Institute of Agriculture.
The new status was the result of long efforts by many professors
and teachers at the School since its foundation.

The study programme was originally two years, but with one
preparation year, and later, with a third facultative year. The
School roll was between 120 and 200 students, about 40% of them
being non-Czechs (ie Poles, Russians, Bulgars, Serbians and
Croatians), so it was, de-facto, the Slavic University of
Agriculture.

By 1900s, the increasing number of students required the School
to be relocated to a new building, which was built, near the
original school, in 1902 – 1904, for 424 000 K. (Annual income of
teacher of elementary school was 1 200 K). This building is still
being used by the school, to the present day.

Shortly after independent Czechoslovakia was established in July
1919, the new Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry was
founded in Brno, and a number of professors from Tábor moved there
to help start the new University. The first president of the
University in Brno was Tábor Academy Professor František Bubák, a
very wellrespected mycologist and phytopathologist.

In 1919, the School was changed to being a
“Secondary School of Agriculture”, with a fouryear
programme. This school produced its first graduates in
1924. Basically the Czech Agricultural University
was moved from Tábor to Brno, but all its equipment remained in
Tábor and was further extended. In 1920, the
National factory for manufacturing teaching aids
was founded in Tábor. By 1921, it delivered a full trainload of
teaching aids to Prague Agricultural Exhibition, and won the
highest award. Almost 4 000 different items (models, preparations,
stuffed animals, slides, etc) were made in the institute until
1932, when it was relocated to Prague.

In 1922, the Agricultural Research
Institute was founded, which extended work which had begun
in 1880s. It had departments of agricultural chemistry,
agricultural botany, plant breeding, meteorology and
phytopathology. In the same year the school was again turned into
“Higher School of Agriculture”. In
1926, a new school farm was
established in Měšice, and the first Agricultural Advisory
Institute in the country was set up. Between 1922 and
1948, the School was attended by between 120 and 200 students per
year, with an increasing percentage being women.

Study at the School was interrupted during WWII, but resumed
immediately after the war. On January 1st 1948,
the school was renamed the “Higher Peasant
School”, with a roll of between 200 and 250, and a new
student dormitory was built. In 1951, the school
was reorganised into three different schools, all in the same
building: Higher Peasant School, Basic
Peasant School, and Basic Economics
School. Now in 2006, under the name
“Higher Vocational School and Secondary Agricultural School
of Tábor”, the school is celebrating its 140th
birthday.

New Building of Agricultural
School

New Building of School of Agriculture,
photographed before 1906.

The New Building of the School of Agriculture was financed
jointly by the City of Tábor (52 000 K), Bohemia Region (also 52
000 K) and Ministry of Agriculture (20 000 K). The original design,
produced in Prague under the direction of Karel Pokorný, was too
expensive, so modifications were required. On May 11th 1902, the
construction contract was given to builder Čenek Křicka
from Kolín, and by winter, the main walls and roof were in
place.

Before the building was completed, however, further
modifications had to be made, especially to the facade. According
to the contemporary press, the building “looked like a barracks”,
so the Tábor City Council asked Prof. Čenský to design a new
façade, with a further 3 100 K being offered for the project. The
new façade was made in renaissance style, with modern motifs, taken
from the world of agriculture, flora and fauna. The facade also
features important personalities in Czech Agriculture, as chosen by
the professors of the Tábor Academy:

František Veverka (1798 – 1849) was a farmer
in Rybitví u Pardubic, with a passion for improving agriculture. He
designed the “ruchadlo” — the predecessor of
today’s ploughs, that was built by his cousin, blacksmith
Václav Veverka (1796 – 1849). The Veverka design
significantly reduced the power needed to pull the plough, and
allowed the depth of tillage to be adjusted, thus giving better
cultivation of the soil. Their invention quickly spread across
Europe, and 10 years later, a similar design was produced by
American company, John Deere & Co. The Veverkas hadn’t patented
their invention, and there were lengthy arguments about the
authorship. Finally, in 1882, their authorship was accepted, and
the next year, a memorial to them was unveiled in Rybitví.

J. Krejčí is often called “the father of Czech
geology”. He worked as professor at the Prague Polytechnic School,
and later at Charles University. He was well-known for popularising
the study of Geology. He wanted to see the natural world studied by
Czech scientists, and the results published in the Czech
language.

F. S. Kodym was an important Czech
agricultural publicist of late 19th Century.

F. Horský unified his theoretical work in
agriculture with practical work, and in so doing, redefined the
study of agriculture. His "field sermons" about the practical needs
of peasants were very popular. He introduced the concept of
alternating planting of different crops, and invented an improved
“ruchadlo”, or plough.

Inside the building, the architectural decorations of the
interiors are also in renaissance style. The plastering work was
done, partly on place, and partly by Prague sculptor Jos.
Pekárek.

The New Building was opened on October 15 – 16th 1904, and
became one of the most beautiful buildings in the city of Tábor.
The Šechtl and Vosček studios, together with Nepomucký Print,
prepared postcards of the building just before the opening. The
same negative was used for this enlargement.

Botanic Garden in Tábor

Old Botanic Garden in Tábor, before
1891.

The Botanic Garden in Tábor was founded in the same year as the
School of Agriculture, on February 17th 1866. In all the Czech
lands, the only older botanic garden was Na Slupi, the University
botanic garden in Prague. With an initial area of 3.6 ha, the Tábor
garden included experimental fields, a greengrocer's garden, and
nurseries for fruit and forest trees.

In 1903, the garden was rebuilt on a new site, to the north of
the School’s New Building, under the guidance of its
Superintendent, Professor František Bubák, and the Head Gardener,
Albín Arnold. Professor Bubák visited a number of botanic gardens,
and finally decided on a novel organisation. While most gardens of
the time divided their plants into families, in the Tábor garden,
for the first time in the world, the plants were organised
according their agricultural and industrial uses, such as cereals,
oil plants, pigment plants, weeds and so on.

After 1907, the Botanic Garden published an index of seeds. The
first edition had 1745 different types of seeds, and this index was
exchanged with botanical gardens around the world. By 1908, the
index had grown to 2522 different seeds, and 8800 bags of seeds
were sent to interested partners.

Phytopathologist Professor Kunín, described the Garden in 1920
as follows:

“The Botanic Garden belonging to the High School of
Agriculture in Tábor is the largest botanic garden in
Czechoslovakia. Its area, of 2.7 ha, is surrounded by a steel
fence, and a wide border of ornamental trees, bushes and
herbs.

The garden has three parts. Next to the building is
the most important section, of plants which are agriculturally and
industrially interesting. In small plots 50 cm square, there are
over 2000 species of plants, including grasses, sedges, legumes,
vegetables, plants producing essential oils, plants for producing
fibre, grains, weeds, cereals, herbs and poisonous plants, a
vineyard, a hop-garden, etc.

In the next part, the so-called “natural formations”
are separated by two paths. Between these is a wide belt of bulb
plants, especially from the Mediterranean, and a collection of
bent-grasses. Organised grass system edges the whole garden along
the lower fence.

In the layout, rocks from our mountains alternate
with meadows, deciduous woods, conifers and mixed forests. The
stream that springs in “Mount Krkonoše” passes through a peat bog,
until it reaches a small lake with water and coastal flora, before
passing under the bridge to Lake Jordán.

In the distance, around small ruins, there are
earlycolonising plants. On a sandy area grow appropriate herbs, and
on the opposite side of the small lake are rocks covered by flowers
from our central massif. A rock garden, built of soil and rock from
our mountains, contains alpine plants. Beyond is a collection of
conifers, with herbs growing in their shade. The rest of the garden
is taken up with green-houses and hotbeds.”

Because of its large variety of natural conditions, the garden
also has 350 kinds of mushrooms — a notable number considering its
position, almost in the middle of the city.

In year 2000, the Czech Ministry of Culture declared the garden,
and the school building, to be a cultural monument (historic
landmark). Today the Tábor Botanic Garden is being renovated, and
we look forward to its next 140

Industrial Exhibitions

The history of Industrial Exhibitions goes back to the 18th
century. The first, on Martin's Field in France, was designed to
celebrate the French Republic. Its purpose was to display the best
of French products, and to stimulate competition by displaying the
very best product in each category. At the same time, an effort was
made to include the greatest possible range of products. The result
of such a wide perspective was to force a division of the
exhibition into sections.

The phenomenon of “national exhibitions”, sometimes called
“national expositions”, spread rapidly, first to England, then to
other European countries. Sir Henry Cole, inspired by his visit to
the Paris Exposition in 1849, passed the idea to Albert, husband of
Queen Victoria. The Crystal Palace, planned by Josef Paxton and
built in Hyde Park within three months in 1854, was a gigantic
exhibition space. The French response was rapid; and in 1855,
Paris, the largest continental city, opened her gates to the world.
During the period 1873 to 1902, world expositions spread to other
European cities, and to other continents. The Austro-Hungarian
Empire was a European power capable of a world presentation, in the
style of England and France. Unfortunately, the 1873 Exposition was
marred by the crash of the Vienna Bourse. The Exposition site in
Vienna became the Prater amusement park.

The first overseas Exhibition took place in Philadelphia in1876,
in celebration of 100 years of independence of the United States of
America. The World Exposition of1878 in Paris introduced the
novelty of inviting other countries to build their own pavilions,
in the Avenue of Nations. The Eiffel tower is a monument to the
technical competence of the French School of Engineering, at the
Paris Exposition of 1889.

World expositions reflected contemporary trends in social
development. The 19th century was infatuated by technology, and the
advance of the industrial revolution. Today, exhibitions continue
under the name of “Expo”. Usually, an Expo will be structured
around a core theme; for example, the theme of Expo 2005, in Aichi,
Japan, was “Nature’s Wisdom”.

Industrial exhibitions were not only organised on a “world” and
“national” scale; there were regional exhibitions as well. These
included the exhibitions in Tabor in 1964, 1886, 1902 and 1929.
Konstrukce Eifelovy věže, autor fotografie neznámý, 1878 Eiffel
tower construction, photographer unknown, 1878

Industrial Exhibition in
Tabor, 1929

The fourth Industrial Exhibition in Tabor in 1929 followed the
1864 Industrial Exhibition, the 1886 Regional Craft and Industry
Exhibition, and the 1902 South Bohemian Agricultural, Industrial
and Folk Exhibition.

It opened on the 23rd May 1929, and combined the South Bohemian
Exhibition with an exhibition of Czechoslovak Warfare, organised by
the Ministry of Defence. It contained several sections, with a
number of exhibits placed all over the town. Conferences,
celebrations, and cultural events accompanied the exhibition, and
many significant persons attended, including President Masaryk, who
visited on the 30th of May, 1929.

The main exhibition site was on the bank of Jordán lake, on the
site of today's stadium and swimming baths, and included artwork by
Tabor sculptor J. V. Dušek. The exhibition space manifested the
spirit of new functionalist aesthetics, which became popular in the
1920’s. Its characteristics were freedom from ostentation and
ornament, substituting pure geometric shapes. The authors of the
architectural plan were architects Jan Chomutovský and Prof. Dr
Theodor Petřík, of Tábor, professor of Agricultural Engineering at
the Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT).

Bad weather dogged the exhibition from the beginning. The long
winter had delayed the building work, and the first days were
marred by heavy rain. Even so, up to 20 000 people visited on some
days. A severe storm on the 4th of July caused panic among the
visitors, tore electric cables, damaged pavilions and caused damage
worth one million crowns. The exhibition was briefly interrupted,
but reopened in less than a week, with pavilions reroofed, and new
displays set up.

The exhibition continued to be a great success, and was
prolonged until the end of August 1929.

Contemporary texts

Gate of Victory

We look with joy and excitement to the day which will be
remembered in our history, when beyond Bechyne Gate, in magnificent
natural scenery, the call will sound: “I declare this Exhibition
open”. This day approaches fast. Our exhibition will be noted by
the entire nation. After many years, South Bohemia, led by Tabor,
will show before the public its development, its progress. It has
also another aim, to prove itself true to its roots in Czech soil,
its Czech honesty, which underpins its national and economic
development. How will it be received by its stern judges?

It is said that exhibitions are outmoded, uninteresting. We have
been aware of this public opinion even before planning the
Exhibition. It is not true of our South Bohemian region. The people
of our land are not bored by cultural experiences. Enlightenment is
proceeding here, as in all lands containing natural riches. Fatigue
of the spirit is not known. We are optimistic; we look to the
future; we seek to add to our lives, not to discard. We have great
expectations of our Exhibition. We have brought together all that
are worthy of notice. Results of agriculture, industry and crafts,
showing the individuality of our region. Our cultural achievements,
as well as our cultural history. We present our homeland in its
true, quiet, thoughtful mien, resisting waves of internationalism
and loss of individuality. We examined all ideas of men and women
with passion for the enterprise, and realised the best of them as
far as the unfavourable environment allowed.

Now, when the curtain is about to rise, we ask ourselves? Have
we, with best intentions, still omitted something crucial? The
results of our best efforts will be seen in a few days. We are
rapidly approaching days of celebration. At their centre will be
the Exhibition, their setting Tabor. We anticipate a time of joy,
excitement, and extraordinary effort. We are sure Tabor will prove
equal to the task. All levels of our society know how to behave
towards the multitudes of foreigners that will visit our town. Our
foremost citizens will represent us with ease and panache. Our
ladies will provide flawless hospitality.

And so we approach this time with heads held high. Some
nervousness is understandable, but considering the skill and honest
effort expended in preparation, we need not fear. We enter the
Exhibition by a

6th exhibition of Šechtl and Voseček Museum of
Photography:
“Historical photographs celebrating 140 years of the School of
Agriculture in Tábor”

We present 89 photographs by Šechtl & Voseček Studios, from
1876 to the 1950s. The photographs were originally taken by Ignác
Šechtl (till 1911), Josef Šechtl (till 1950), and Josef and Marie
Šechtlová, and have been reproduced digitally from original
negatives, or redeveloped by traditional wet laboratory
process.

The exhibition is spread over two floors. Within the coffee shop
are photographs of students of the Agricultural School; on the
ground floor are photographs of School buildings, the Botanical
Garden, and local events associated with agriculture; in the
passageway are photographs illustrating agricultural work; and in
the basement are pictures of the Industrial Exhibitions in Tabor in
1884, 1902, 1920 and 1929, and of the Tábor Agricultural Research
Station.

The exhibition has been prepared by many people. We especially
acknowledge:

Mr Jiří Bumerl

provided much insight from his long career as a teacher at the
school

Mrs Jindřiška Bumerlová and Mrs Iva
Petrová

helped to clarify Czech texts, and provided texts about the
Botanic Garden, and school buildings, that our presentation is
based on.

Mr Stanislav Devera, Mrs
Deverová and Mr František Dobeš

explained many details about agricultural work

Mr Jan Hubička

prepared digital reproductions for the exhibition; wrote Czech
captions and posters; and co-worked on choosing the
photographs

Eva Hubičková

prepared texts about industrial exhibitions; framed most of the
photographs; and prepared some photographic prints

Mr Jiří Kohout

provided information about monuments in front of the school,
improved dating of photographs, and listed the different names the
school has had over the last 140 years

Mrs Marie Šechtlová and Mrs Marie
Michaela Šechtlová

co-worked on choosing the photographs; writing of captions,
invitation card and posters; and organized the work on the
exhibition

Škrla family

provided home for exhibition

Mrs Eleanor Schlee and Mr John
Titchener

translated texts to English

Mr Jakub Troják

designed typography for invitation cards, captions and
posters

Mr Tomáš Zahradníček

reviewed much of the text prepared for the exhibition, and
clarified especially texts relating to Czech politicians

We are very grateful to everyone who helped to realize this
exhibition. All the work was done completely voluntarily without
any financial compensation. We also gratefully acknowledge the
support we have received from the Town of Tábor and South Bohemian
Region. This exhibition will run from its opening on June 20th
2006, until the end of October 2006.